Monkseaton

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Monkseaton
Northumberland
Location
Grid reference: NZ346722
Location: 55°2’35"N, 1°27’32"W
Data
Population: 19,044  (2011)
Post town: Whitley Bay
Postcode: NE25
Dialling code: 0191
Local Government
Council: North Tyneside
Parliamentary
constituency:
Tynemouth

Monkseaton is a village near Whitley Bay in south-eastern Northumberland. It stands next to Whitley Bay, just half a mile form the coast on the North Sea, and three miles north of the mouth of the River Tyne. Half a mile or so north of Monkseaton, the extensive built-up areas of the conurbation change abruptly into Green belt.

History

The Monkseaton Arms in 1970

Monkseaton predates the coastal resort of Whitley Bay: the earliest record has it as land owned by the Priory of Tynemouth. The first documentary references to Monkseaton mediæval village date from the early 12th century (c.1106-16) when King Henry I granted Seton, later to be renamed Monkseaton, to Tynemouth Priory.

This was a substantial village in the late 13th century, when Monkseaton Manor was one of ten manors of Tynemouth Priory, with fifteen bondsmen, ten cotmen and three freeholds listed in 1292.

The remains of a mediæval brewery wall are still to be seen alongside the Monkseaton Arms public house.

Although Monkseaton has been subsumed in the urban developments of the 20th century, it still retains much of the character of the village it once was.

About the village

Churchill Playing Fields are located within the vicinity and the North Tyneside International Youth Football Tournament takes place here every year. Bowling greens, tennis courts and a cricket pavilion accompany the park.

Monkseaton Metro station was moved to its current position in 1915[1] and the tennis courts in Souter Park South are now where the station was originally located. The station is one of the village's two stops on the circular Metro system which connects it to Newcastle, the other being West Monkseaton. Another rail route, heading north up the coast, is now disused and has been adapted into a footpath and cycle route leading to the A190 road that links Seaton Sluice to the town of Seaton Delaval.

Front Street, Monkseaton

Monkseaton has three centrally-located pubs close to one another on the north side of Front Street, the main thoroughfare of the village. Heading west from Monkseaton station, the first of these is the Monkseaton Arms, next is the Black Horse, and finally, set back from the street somewhat, is the Ship Inn. Two other pubs, the Hunting Lodge and the Beacon, are located west and north not far from West Monkseaton Metro station. There are several local schools.

Recent history

On Thursday 28 June 2012 the village suffered flash flooding following torrential rainfall in Northumberland and County Durham. Roads were closed causing traffic chaos, and many properties and buildings were flooded, including Langley First School which was closed for three weeks. The heavy rainfall made an embankment on the Metro line collapse, causing houses in Brantwood Avenue to be evacuated and West Monkseaton Metro station to be closed. Many residents suffered significant flood damage to their homes and possessions.

Outside links

References